Rich Sachse of Trillium Woods in Plymouth Receives Spirit of Aging Award

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Jodi Boyne

Rich Sachse, a resident and active volunteer at Trillium Woods in Plymouth, was recently honored by LeadingAge Minnesota with the Spirit of Aging Award. 

The Spirit of Aging Award honors an older adult who exemplifies the concept of positive and active aging. Sachse was selected from a pool of nominations submitted by a field of 750 senior care organizations throughout the state. 

“Active aging is more than just physical exercise; it’s engagement intellectually, emotionally and socially, and Rich has found his own unique way to age actively and positively impact the lives of the seniors around him,” adds Elizabeth Ann Fetner, Executive Director at Trillium Woods. “He is a common senior doing uncommon things and is well deserving of this recognition.” 

Sachse moved to Trillium Woods in Plymouth 2015, and from the very beginning set out to be an integral part of the community. He was elected to the inaugural Resident Council and serves as co-chair of the Resident Health Services Committee where he led the development of educational materials to help residents understand the continuum of care and resources available to them at Trillium Woods. 

Sachse volunteers with many activities in the community, visits with his neighbors who have transitioned into more assistive living for health reasons, and leads a men’s support group in the community.  Furthermore, Sachse is a daily swimmer and often encourages others to join him as he walks eight to 10 miles a day throughout the local neighborhood and Trillium Woods. 

“Rich is tireless in his efforts to improve and enrich the lives of his neighbors. He makes a point to connect with our residents and staff emotionally and socially, and he is often sought out for his guidance,” said Christine Maxwell, Health & Wellness Navigator, Trillium Woods. “Rich approaches each day with a positive attitude, vowing that ‘today he’s going to be better than the last day.’ His personal dedication and energy represents the Spirit of Aging.” 

To learn more, watch Rich Sachse – 2018 Spirit of Aging award.